.N3 




/ 

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION 



OF 




AT A 



Special Session 



u> 



March, 1870. 






U.S.A. 



PRINTED FOR THE ASSOCIATION, 
BY 

:NrK;^^^ YORK. 




L"P 



List of A/Iembei^ Present. 



J. p. WICKERSI-IAM, State Superintendent, - - Pa. 

B. C. HOBBS, " " - - Ind. 

B. G. NORTHROP, Sec. State Board Education, - - Conn. 

M. A. NEWELL, Ex Officio State Superintendent, - Md. 

HENRY BARNARD, Commissioner of Education, - U. S. 

JOSEPH WHITE, Secretary Board of Education, - Mass. 

W. D. HENKLE, State Commissioner Common Schools, Ohio. 

WARREN JOHNSON, State Supt. " '' Maine. 

J. K. JILLSON, " " of Education, - ^8'. C. 
S.S.ASHLEY, " " ofPublic Instruction, A^. 0. 

A. D. WILLIAMS, '' " of Education, - West Va. 

T. W. BICKNELL, " u ' a . ^ j 

JOHN EATON, iate ^' " " - - Tenn. 

DUANE DOTY, Superintendent of Detroit, - - Mich. 
WM. R. CREERY, 
Z. RICHARDS, 
J. F. REINMUND, 



Baltimore, - - 3fd. 

Washington, - D. C. 



Springfield, - Ohio. 

Dorchester Co., - Md. 

Pottsville, - - Pa. 

Cumberland Co., - Pa. 



JAS. L. BRYAN, 

B. F. PATTERSON, 

WILL A. LINDSLEY, " 

R. M. MANLY, Superintendent Educational Bureau, - Va. 

J. W. ALVORD, Gen. Supt. Education Freedmen's Bureau, B. C. 

F. A. ALLEN, Tioga Co.. ...... Pa. 

JEROME ALLEN, Monticello, - . . . . Joica. 

W. W. WOODRUFF, Lincoln University, - - - Pa. 

JOHN J. ANDERSON, New York, . . . . ]^, Y. 

Prof. H. E. WHIPPLE, Hillsdale College, - - - Mich. 



PROCEEDINGS 



The Association was called to order by the President, J. P. 
Wickersham, Esq., at II2 o'clock A. M., who stated that the chief 
object of the meeting was of a business character. 

Dr. Barnard, being called upon, made statements concerning 
the place of holding the meetings, and the accommodations for 
boarding. He also welcomed the members and visitors to Wash- 
ington. In his further remarks he spoke of the value of the 
Census about to be taken ; the basis upon which the j^aval and 
Military Schools rest ; and also upon Special Schools. 

Mr. Z. Richards, Supt. of the Public Schools of Washington, 
in behalf of the Trustees of said Schools, offered the gratuitous 
use of the hall of the Franklin School Building; and also stated 
that comfortable quarters had been secured for thirty or forty 
delegates, at $2.00 per day, in the immediate vicinity of the Hall . 

On motion of Mr. Northrop, the offer was accepted; and the 
Association agreed to hold all the meetings in the Franklin 
Building. 

On motion of Mr. Northrop, also. 

Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed by the Chair, 
to consider the subject of comj^etence examination as the mode 
of admission to the U. S. Military and Naval Academies ; and to 
recommend a plan for the same to Congress — but first to report 
to the Association. 

The Chair appointed as Committee, Messrs. Northrup, Hobbs, 
and Jillson. 

Mr. White of Mass. moved to appoint a committee of five in 
addition to Mr. Richards, to arrange the business of the conven- 
tion; — who retired and returned with the following Report : 

1. At a quarter before one, P. M., Hon. W. Johnson, Supt. of 
Maine, will read his paper on " School Supervision." 



6 

2. At half past two o'clock P. M., Hon. W. D. Henkle of Ohio 
will present his paper upon School Statistics. 

3. At half past seven o'clock P. M., Maj. Gen. O. O. Howard 
will present his paper upon the consolidation of the Department 
of Education, and the Educational Division of the Freedmen's 
Bureau. 

4. At ten o'clock on Wednesday, Hon. S. S. Ashley of N. C. 
will present his paper on " National aids to assist in putting in 
operation Systems of Schools in the South." 

5. At twelve o'clock, M., Hon. H. Barnard will present a paper 
on " The National Department of Education." 

6. At half past seven o'clock P. M., a public meetmg for the 
benefit of the teachers and friends of education in Washington 
and speeches by prominent members of the Association. 

On motion, it was Resolved, that thfere be two sessions each 
day — one at ten A, M., and the other at half past seven, P. M. ; 
and that all speeches except papers be limited to ten minutes, and 
no one to speak twice, until all have spoken who may wish. 

In accordance with the above order of business, the President 
introduced Hon. W. Johnson of Maine, who read his paper upon 
School Supervision. 

On motion, the Report was received and opened for discussion. 

Mr. Johnson presented a series of Resolutions upon School 
Supervision, which, after some discussion, were referred back, and 
finally passed as follows : 

Resohed, That active School Supervision is an element essential 
to the complete developement of our Public School system. 

Resolved^ That complete supervision involves 1st, a State Super" 
intendent ; 2d, City Superintendency ; 3d, County or District 
Superintendency ; and 4th, Town, or Township Superintendency. 

At half-past two o'clock P. M., Hon. Mr. Henkle of Ohio made 
his Report upon " School Statistics;" which on motion was re- 
ceived and discussed at some length, when Mr. Henkle was 
requested to present an abstract of his Report in the form of 
Resolutions, and report hereafter. 

On motion of Mr. Richards, the Association to meet at half 
past seven o'clock P. M. 



7 
EVENING SESSION. 

The Association assembled in the Hall of the Franklin Build- 
ing at half-past seven o'clock P. M., and was called to order by the 
President ; and Mr. Z. Richards was called upon to act as 
Secretary pro tem in the absence of the Secretary, Mr. Creery. 

The President read letters from Dr. Yan Bokkelen of Md., C. 
Thurston Chase, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Florida, 
Mark H. Bunnell, Supt. of Minnesota ; T. M. Conway, Supt. of 
Louisiana; and James Cruikshank of Brooklyn, N. Y. 

On motion, Mr. Duane Doty of Michigan was appointed Treas- 
urer pro tem. 

On motion of Mr. Henkle the Association resolved to assess 
members present one dollar to pay expenses incurred. Most of 
the members present paid one dollar each. 

On motion of Mr. Henkle, the question of amending the Con- 
stitution so as to include County Superintendents and ex-Super- 
intendents, was referred to a Committee of three, Messrs, Henkle, 
Northrop and Hobbs, to report at the next session. 

On motion of Mr. Henkle also, all persons present were invited 
to participate in the proceedings of the Convention. 

On motion, the Report upon School Statistics was taken up for 
consideration. 

On motion of Mr. Henkle, Resolved : That we recommend 
that census returns comprehend a classification of persons at the 
diflferent ages from one to twenty-one. 

On motion, this Resolution was referred back to the Committee 
on Statistics, to be embraced in their Report. 

In the absence of Gen. Howard, Mr. S. S. Ashley being called 
upon, read his paper upon " National Aids to assist in putting 
schools into operation at the South." 

The Report was formally received and ably discussed by Mr. 
R. M. Manley of Ya., Dr. Barnard, and Mr. B. C. Hobbs. 

On motion of Mr. Williams of West Ya., the Resolutions and 
Report were referred to the Committee on the subject. 

On motion, adjourned to meet at ten o'clock A. M. The fol- 
lowing speakers were announced for to-morrow evening, to the 
public ; viz : Messers. Wickersham, White, Johnson, F. A. Allen, 
B. G. Northrop, Jillson, and Bicknell. 



WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 1870. 

The Association met according to adjournment, and was called 
to order by the President. Mr. Richards suggested that there 
were several members who had expressed a wish that the Associ- 
ation would make arrangements for calling upon the President of 
the U. S., in a body to pay their respects to him; and he inquired 
if it would not be well to do so. 

On motion of Mr. D. Doty, it is Resolved, that we appoint a 
Committee to ascertain whether it will be convenient for the 
President to receive this body, and if so, when. 

On motion of Mr. Richards, Gen. Eaton, the Commissioner of 
Education, was appointed a Committee to ascertain the wishes of 
the President. 

On motion, the Committee on Mr. Ashley's Paper and Resolu- 
tions, rejoorted through Mr. Ashley certain resolutions, which 
were freely and ably discussed by Messrs. Ashley, Alvord, Jillson, 
White, Gen. Howard, B. C. Hobbs and Center; when on motion 
of Mr. ¥7'illiams the Resolutions were recommitted for amend- 
ments to be reported hereafter. . 

Gen. Eaton having visited the President, reported that the 
President would be pleased to receive the Convention at one 
o'clock P. M., whereupon, on motion, the Association, Resolved to 
adjourn this session at one o'clock P. M., and go in a body to the 
President's House. 

Gen. O. O. Howard being called upon, presented an interest- 
ing paper upon the " Consolidation of the Educational Depart- 
ment of the Government, and the Educational Division of the 
Freedmen's Bureau." 

The Paper and Report were received and made the order for 
present consideration. Mr. Hobbs moved and it was resolved 
that Gen. Howard be requested to furnish a copy of his paper 
for publication. 

Remarks were made by Gen. Eaton, Mr. Hobbs and Mr. Alvord. 

On motion of Mr. Alvord it was resolved that an invitation be 
extended to the Committees of Congress " On Education and 
Labor," and on " Retrenchment and Reform " to meet this body 
at ten o'clock A. M., to-morrow March 3d, to listen to matters 
pertaining to the general interests of education in the States. 

On motion, the Secretary, Mr. Richards, and Mr. White, were 



9 

appointed a Committee to visit said Committees and extend the 
invitation. 

Mr. Newell, of Maryland, moved the following: 

Resolved^ That the Committee on the Resolutions of Mr. Ash- 
ley, now before the Association, be instructed to so word their 
resolutiofis as not to exclude from Congressional aid the States of 
Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Kentucky, and the District 
of Columbia. 

The resolution failed to pass. 

On motion of Gen. Howard, the following resolution was made 
the special order, when we shall be present with the Congres- 
sional Committees : 

Resolved^ That the bills reported favorably upon by the Re- 
trenchment, and Education, and Labor Committees of Congress, 
on the subject of Education, with a view of uniting the present 
remarkable necessities of extending good systems of education, 
meet the favorable indorsement of this Convention. 

Gen. Howard here extended an invitation to the Convention to 
visit the Howard University at the opening exercises, at 9 A. M., 
March 3d. The invitation was accepted. 

Mr. Henkle here presented a series of resolutions upon Statis- 
tics, which were received and referred, to be called up hereafter. 

Adjourned to visit the President, and to meet at half-past 
seven P. M. 

Immediately after the adjournment, the Convention went in a 
body to the President's house, and were cordially received, and 
each member introduced by the President of the Association. 



WEDNESDAY EVENING, 1% P. M. 

The President called the meeting to order. 

Mr. Northrop presented the following : 

Resolved^ That this Association recommend that the Law and 
Regulations relating to the United States Military and Naval 
Academies be so modified as to i)rovide that no person shall be 
appointed to the Cadet Corps at West Point, or to the Naval 
Cadet Corps at Annapolis, until he has been found qualified in the 
particulars specified by law, after a public examination. The ex- 
aminers shall mnke returns, under oath or aiJirmation. to the Sec- 



10 

retary of War, or to the Secretary of the Navy, of the persons 
examined in the order of merit. And that all appointments to 
fill vacancies be made from these returns, and in the order of 
merit, as assigned by the examiners. 

On motion, the resolution Avas adopted. 

The following named gentlemen made able and interesting ad- 
dresses upon school supervision and the school systems of their 
several States : 

Mr. White, of Mass. ; Mr. Northrop, of Conn. ; Mr. F. A. 
Allen, of Penn. ; Mr. S. S. Ashley, of N. C. ; and Hon. John 
Eaton, Commissioner of Education. 

The addresses were a marked feature of the Convention ; after 
which the Association adjourned, to meet at 10 A. M., March 3d. 



THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 10 A. M. 



The Association was called to order by the President. 

Mr. Hobbs, of Ind., suggested that the importance of the work 
in which the Convention was engaged was such as to demand 
that we should enter upon and perform it with a realizing sense 
of our constant dependence upon our Heavenly Father, and with 
prayer. 

On motion, the resolutions of Mr. Ashley were taken up and 
adopted, as follows : 

Whereas, it is the opinion of this Convention that the work of 
reconstruction will not be finished, and a sure basis of a true Re- 
publican government will not be laid in the States recently in re- 
bellion, until an efficient system of public instruction be estab- 
lished in each, which shall embrace the whole population thereof; 
therefore, 

Resohed^ That this National Convention of School Superintend- 
ents earnestly recommend to Congress, now in session, to take in- 
to immediate consideration the educational condition of the States 
aforesaid, and to make such provisions as the exigencies of the 
times demand. 

Extended and interesting addresses were made by the author 
of the resolution, Mr. Ashley, of N. C, by Mr. Jillson, of S. C, 
Mr. White, of Mass., and by Gen. Howard. Several members of 
Congress having arrived, the following named gentlemen ex- 



11 

pressed views in accordance with the sentiments of the resohi- 
tions of Mr. Ashley, and also those of Gen. Howard, viz. : Hon. 
S. M. Amell, Chairman of the Committee on Education and La- 
bor ; Hon. Mr. Hoar, of Mass. ; Hon. Mr. Prosser. Mr. Hoar 
and Mr. Prosser made somewhat extended remarks of an inter- 
esting character. They were followed by Dr. Barnard. 

At the close of the discussion, the resolution of Gen. Howard, 
referred to above, was passed. 

The Congressional delegation retired, and after a short recess 
Dr. Barnard was called upon for his paper uj^on the establishment 
of the Department of Education. 

Dr. Barnard presented a verbal report of his work and plans, 
occupying one hour and a half. 

On motion, the report was accepted ; and on motion of Mr. 
White, of Mass., Dr. Barnard Avas requested to furnish a copy or 
an abstract of the statements he had made, to be published with 
the proceedings. (See Appendix B.) 

The resolutions of Mr. Henkle, upon Statistics of Schools, 
were, on motion, taken up and passed as follows : 

Resolved^ 1. That school enumerations should specify the num- 
ber of persons between six and sixteen years of age, and also 
the number between sixteen and twenty-one. 

2. That school returns should specify the number of pupils 
enrolled between the same ages, also the whole number en- 
rolled ; the average weekly enrollment ; the average monthly 
enrollment, and the average daily attendance. 

3. That per centages of attendance should be based on average 
weekly enrollments. 

4. That the cost of education for each pupil should be based 
upon the average weekly enrollment, and the amount paid super- 
intendents and teachers ; also upon the amount, paid for contin- 
gent expenses, and also upon the interest at six per cent, on all 
permanent investments in buildings, grounds, apparatus, &c. ; 
the several results to be reported separately. 

5. That re-enrollments should be so reported that State Super- 
intendents may be able to report the whole number in the pub- 
lic schools, exclusive of re-enrollments. 

6. That the classification of the census returns for 1S70 should 
comprehend the number of persons at the respective ages from 
one to t\venty-one. That it should also specify the number of 



12 

pei'sons between fifteen and twenty-one that cannot read and 
write, as well as the number over twenty-one. 

7. That the National Bureau of Education be requested to dis- 
seminate such recommendations as to the modes of collecting 
school statistics, as this Association may decide upon. (See Ap- 
pendix A.) 

On motion, the President, Mr. Wickersham ; the acting Secre- 
tary, Mr. Richards ; and Mr. Henkle, were made a committee to 
prepare and publish the proceedings of this Convention. 

On motion, the " Memorial " was taken up for consideration, 
and ably discussed by Mr. Hobbs, its author, after which it was 
adopted, with the understanding that it is to be signed by the 
President of the Association and by the acting Secretary, and it 
shall be accompanied by the resolutions of Mr. Ashley. 

The following is the memorial referred to : 



To the Senate and Souse of Representatives of the United States : 

Your memorialists have had under consideration the interests 
of the white and colored pojjulation of those States in which a 
large proportion of the people are Freedmen, and whose educa- 
tional funds are inadequate to meet the demands of an educational 
system, general in its application and objects. 

We believe that no system of reconstruction will be complete 
that does not adequately provide for a general system of educa- 
tion. 

The scientific, literary, civil, and religious institutions of a free 
people cannot be secure without the restraints of virtue and the 
aid of general intelligence. 

We would urge upon the consideration of your honorable 
bodies the necessity of such appropriations, from time to time, as 
may be necessary to keep in active operation the present system 
of schools inaugurated by the Freedmen's Bureau, and which 
have been of mutual service to both the white and colored popu- 
lation of the South. 

In order that those States which have not sustained a general 
system of public schools may be adequately supplied with effi- 
cient teachers, and have put into successful operation on the best 



tm§i6i*^- 



\ 



13 

methods, at an early day, schools for the liberal education of all 
classes, without regard to color or previous condition, we would 
also recommend the establishment and endowment of Normal 
schools — one in each State; giving Maryland and the District of 
Columbia jointly one. 

We also believe that the true interests of the nation would be 
promoted by an adequate equalization of the educational funds 
of the States, so far as relates to the purposes of education, by 
the General Government. 

We believe that the work of education among all classes in 
these States, whose funds are lost, would receive a new and Avhole- 
some impulse, that would vindicate the economy and wisdom of 
such appropriations. 

By direction of the Association. 

J. P. WiCKERSHAM, President. 
7i. Richards, Secretary. 



On motion of Prof F. A. Allen : 

Resolved. That the thanks of this Association are due, and are 
hereby tendered to Z. Richards, Superintendent Public Schools 
in Washington; to Dr. Barnard; to Gen. O. O. Howard, and to 
the Trustees of the Washington City Public Schools, for the am- 
ple provision they have made for the accommodation of its mem- 
bers, and their friends, who have been present. 

On motion, the Association adjourned, to meet one day pre- 
vious to the next meeting of the National Teachers' Association, 
at 3 o'clock P. M. 

Z. Richards, Secretary 2J^o tern. 

J. P. WiCKERSiiAM, President. 



14 



SCHOOL STATISTICS. 

BY W. D. HBNKLE. 

subject of school statistics has been several times discussed 
in''*Na,tional Educational Associations. At the meeting of the 
National Association of State and City School Superintendents 
held in August last, in Trenton, a voluntary paper on this subject 
was presented by Mr. Sears, superintendent of the schools of 
Newark,;]^. J. That paper was referred to a special committee,, 
of whl^lvl was made chairman. No conference has been hiad 
with any of the committee, except Mr. A. J. Rickoff, of Cleve- 
land, Ohio. The following is the substance of a verbal report 
that I made in Washington City on the first of March, at a 
special meeting of the Association. 

It is not advisable to attempt to include in State School Re- 
ports many items collected on the same basis. The School laws 
of the States are so different that the reports are necessarily 
characterized mainly by local peculiarities. There are dozens of 
items that it may be desirable to include in the city aod town 
reports that can not be included in State reports. There are but 
few items that can be secured with any degree of accuracy from 
all classes of public schools. The desirable points of uniformity 
are discussed under the following heads : 

SCHOOL AGE. 

It Avould be well for all States to decide upon a basis of school 
age, and order a census each year, of all children of such age. 
This school age is between 5 and 21 in Ohio, New York, Mis- 
souri, Kansas, Minnesota and Iowa, between 4 and 21 in Maine 
(this was formerly the age in Ohio), between 6 and 21 in Penn- 
sylvania, Indiana and Illinois, between 5 and 20 in Michigan, 6 
and 20 in West Virginia, 4 and 18 in Vermont, 4 and 16 in Con- 
necticut, and 5 and 15 in Massachusetts. 

In Ohio the school census is taken in September in each year, 
and this census forms a basis for the distribution of school funds 
as well as of admission to the public schools, except that certain 
Boards of Education may exclude children under six years of 
aofe. In Massachusetts the school census is for the distribution 



15 

of money, and not as a basis of admission to the schools; in 
Pennsylvania no school census is taken, and the school age is 
simply the basis of admission to school. 

It is here recommended that in each State there should be 
taken yearly a census of all persons between 6 and 21 with a 
specification of the number between 16 and 21. 

SCHOOL ATTENDA^'CE. 

Every year's report of the public schools in a State should give 
the whole number of different pupils enrolled on the school 
registers within the year, with a specification of the number be- 
tween 6 and 16 and the number between 16 and 21; the average 
weekly enrolment ; and the average daily attendance. It may 
be desirable for each city that makes monthly reports, to give also 
the average monthly enrolment. 

The average number of pupils belonging to a school is an el- 
ement that depends upon some rule of school membership. It 
may be possible in cities to report this number according to such a 
rule as " the Chicago Rule," but such a rule cannot well be adopted 
in all the schools of a State. Hence it is desirable to seek an 
equivalent that shall be of easy application. The average weekly 
enrolment of a school is essentially the same thing as the average 
number belonging according to " the Chicago Rule." Strong 
proof of this fact could be given, but it is not necessary to do 
so. Rules of school membership for securing attendance should 
still be adopted in cities, but their is no necessity for reporting the 
average number belonging when the average weekly enrolment 
will answer every purpose just as well. 

RE-ENROLMENTS. 

If the teachers in each city, town, or township, should mark 
with an asterisk the nanie of every pupil who is re-enrolled either 
in consequence of attending more than one term in the same 
school, or by changing from one school to another of the city, 
town, or township, the whole number of differeyit pupils attending 
the schools could be readily obtained by subtracting from the 
sum of all the term enrolments in all the schools the total number 
of re-enrolments. There would be no need of specifying in the 
reports to the States the number of re-enrolments of the kind 
referred to; but, in order that the State reports may be accurate, 
teachers should mark with two asterisks the names of all pupils 



1« 

who enter school after having attended some other public school 
of the State in the school year outside of the city, town, or town- 
ship. The report from each city, town, or township to the State, 
should give the number of this class of re-enrolments. The num- 
ber of all such re-enrolments in the State subtracted from the 
sum of al] the reported enrolments of different pupils, would 
give the actual number of different pupils enrolled in the public 
schools of the State within the school year. It would hardly be 
advisable to attempt to find out the actual number of different 
pupils enrolled in a year in each comity. 

PERCENTAGES OF ATTENDANCE. 

School registers should mark each half day's attendance. 
When a school has but one session a day, this session should be 
counted as two half days. 

The following formulae give the different modes of estimating 
the percentages of attendance on the basis of a day, a week, a 
month, a quarter, and a year respectively. 
Let D --= the day's attendance. 

aD := the average daily attendance. 
d^ = the day's enrolment. 
w£ = the week's enrolment. 
aw^ = the average weekly enrolment. 
ad^ = the average daily enrolment. 
m.E = the month's enrolment. 
amJS = the average monthly enrolment. 

q^ := the quarter's enrolment. 
aqJS = the average quarterly enrolment. 
y^ = the year's enrolment. 

S = the number due at the school according to some 
rule of school membership. 

The day as the unit : 

100i> 100 B 

Per cent, of attendance = or 

dB 8 

The week as the unit : 

100 aD lOOaB lOOaB 
Per cent, of attendance = or or 

wE adE 8 



17 

The month as the unit : 

lOOaD IQOaJ) lOOal) lOOaB 
Per cent, of attendance = or or or 

mE aicE aclE 8. 

The quarter as the unit : 

lOOaD lOO^D 100«Z) lOOaD IQOaD 
Per cent, of attendance = or or or or 

qE amE aioE adE S 

The year as the unit : 

imaD lOOaD lOaD 100ai> lOOaD 

Per cent, of attendance = or or or or 

yE aqE amE awE adE 

lOOa-D 

or 

8 

These different formulge give very different results. As the 
average weekly enrolment of a school represents very fairly the 
size of a school, it is recommended in all cases when the time is 
a week or more, that the percentage of attendance should be 
based upon the average daily attendance and the week's or aver- 

imaJD lOOaD 

age weekly enrolment. Hence or is the percentage 

wE awE ' 

recommended. 

COST or TUITION. 

For the sake of uniformity, the average annual cost of tuition 
should be based upon the average weekly enrolment, and given in 
three separate j)arts ; first, the amonnt paid teachers and superin- 
tendents divided by the average weekly enrolment ; second, the 
interest at six per cent, per annum on all permanent investments in 
buildings, grounds, apparatus, etc., divided by the average weekly 
enrolment; third, the amount paid for fuel, ordinary repairs, and 
other contingent expenses, divided by the average weekly 
enrolment. 

AGES. 

All teachers should record the ages of pupils as soon as tliey 
enter school — not giving the age at the time of entering, but the 
age referred to some fixed time near the close of the school year. 
In most States, July 1 would be most suitable. Ages should be 
given in years and months, the days over fifteen being counted a 
month and those under sixteen rejected. Sixteen years nine 
months and twenty days might be represented by 16 : 10, the 
colon being used as a duodecimal mark ; the 10 being twelfths or 
months. 



18 



MEMORANDUM OF REMARKS SUBMITTED BEFORE THE AMERICAN ASSOCIA- 
TION OF SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS, AT WASHINGTON, MARCH 3, 1870. 

I. — The Act creating the Department of Education. Its ante- 
cedent history, from 1833 to 1867. Conception of the 
as to the work to be done under the Act, 
and the methods of Government action. Firsts That of 
authority ; Second^ Of pecuniary grants, and other acts, ac- 
companied with the right of inspection ; Third^ Of influence 
by information, by pen, print, and voice. The Act recog- 
nizes only the latter — that of influence by (1) correspond- 
ence ; (2) personal interviews ; (3) the Press, in circulation 
of reports. 

II. — Mode of administering the office, and of obtaining informa- 
tion. 

A. Schedule of information sought. (Details as to sys- 
tems, institutions, and agencies.) Difficulties in obtaining 
school and other educational statistics. 

B. Mode of obtaining information. (Specifications — all of 
them depending upon the voluntary co-operation of the par- 
ties addressed.) 

C Mode of disseminating information. (Specifications.) 

D. Work done, or in progress. Reports and papers pre- 
pared ; material collected ; work in progress ; an amoulit of 
work not surpassed by the same number of persons in any 
public office. 

E. Examples of work in correspondence and interviews 
within, the last month. (1) Correspondence with individuals 
in twenty-seven difi'erent States ; (2) Interviews with school 
men, and friends in the office of education ; (3) Topics, 27, 
with explanatory remarks. 

III. — Recommendations for the future. (1) The enlargement of 
the field of operation of the office, with a proper equip tion 
of clerical force, and means to accomplish results aimed at in 
its establishment. (2) The supervision of a system of public 
instruction organized and aided by Congress, and in all res- 
pects worthy of the District of Columbia (with a present 



19 

population of, say 130,000) and of the National Capital, which 
shall be responsible to Congress through the office ; which 
should also have the supervision of all institutions of litera- 
ture, science, and art, incorporated by the legislation of Con- 
gress, or aided by its appropriations. (3) The exercise of its 
exclusive authority in respect to the appointment of a Super- 
intendent of Public Instruction in Territories organized by 
the Government, and the early organization of public schools, 
and the disposal of lands set apart for educational purposes. 

(4) An inquiry into the influence of the national schools at 
West Point and at Annapolis ; on the educational condition 
of the several States, with a view of securing in the public 
schools of the several States all that is now accomplished up 
to the close of the second year, and thus reducing the present 
course to two years ; and providing for more thorough prac- 
tical instruction in special schools of artillery, engineers, &c. 

(5) Direct pecuniary aid to such portions of the country as, 
from any special cause, have not been able to organize public 
schools, on a system which should secure the co-operation of 
State school authorities, secure competent teachers, regular 
school attendance, and intelligent inspectors. (6) Co-opera- 
tion with the Superintendent of the Census, in perfecting the 
educational returns of the national census of 1870, so as to 
secure : 1st. The amount of school attendance of each indi- 
vidual whose age and name is given in the schedule, and the 
kind of school attended (public, private, or denominational). 
2d. The ability of each person over fifteen to read or write. 
3d. The name and character of every educational institution. 
4th. The classification of all children under twenty years, by 
single years. 5th. The classification of institutions by cer- 
tain well-defined grades, such as elementary, secondary, su- 
perior, special or class, and supplementary. 



IBl 1411tlAl illlli 

OF 

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PUJOL'S French Class Book. 
SEARING'S Virgil. 
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